US4578002A - Transport apparatus for flat articles - Google Patents

Transport apparatus for flat articles Download PDF

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Publication number
US4578002A
US4578002A US06/619,769 US61976984A US4578002A US 4578002 A US4578002 A US 4578002A US 61976984 A US61976984 A US 61976984A US 4578002 A US4578002 A US 4578002A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
pipeline
pack
push plate
adjacent
transport
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
US06/619,769
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Kozo Taneda
Masae Chiba
Junichi Naka
Shunichi Watanabe
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Snow Brand Milk Products Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Snow Brand Milk Products Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Snow Brand Milk Products Co Ltd filed Critical Snow Brand Milk Products Co Ltd
Assigned to SNOW BRAND MILK PRODUCTS CO., LTD. NO. 1-1, NAEBO-CHO 6-CHOME, HIGASHI-KU, SAPPORO-SHI, HOKKAIDO, JAPAN reassignment SNOW BRAND MILK PRODUCTS CO., LTD. NO. 1-1, NAEBO-CHO 6-CHOME, HIGASHI-KU, SAPPORO-SHI, HOKKAIDO, JAPAN ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: CHIBA, MASAE, NAKA, JUNICHI, TANEDA, KOZO, WATANABE, SHUNICHI
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US4578002A publication Critical patent/US4578002A/en
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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G51/00—Conveying articles through pipes or tubes by fluid flow or pressure; Conveying articles over a flat surface, e.g. the base of a trough, by jets located in the surface
    • B65G51/04—Conveying the articles in carriers having a cross-section approximating that of the pipe or tube; Tube mail systems
    • B65G51/26—Stations
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G51/00—Conveying articles through pipes or tubes by fluid flow or pressure; Conveying articles over a flat surface, e.g. the base of a trough, by jets located in the surface
    • B65G51/02—Directly conveying the articles, e.g. slips, sheets, stockings, containers or workpieces, by flowing gases

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a transport apparatus of the type in which a block of a plurality of flat articles, aligned uprightly and juxtaposed laterally, is transported by air flow through a transport pipeline.
  • the conventional transport apparatus utilizing the air flow, however, fails to transport flat, thin articles such as a vessel for storage of various goods and a cover or lid of the vessel.
  • these flat articles are accommodated in a container for their storage in the stockroom.
  • a number of flat articles are respectively aligned uprightly and juxtaposed laterally to form an elongated block of the flat articles.
  • a plurality of such blocks, each extending laterally, are loaded into the container in row and column pattern.
  • the thus loaded block is directly taken out of the container so as to be set into a loading station of the transport pipeline, the respective flat articles cannot stand by themselves but fall down, and the block collapses. A similar phenomenon occurs at an unloading station. Therefore, the conventional transport apparatus cannot transport the flat articles.
  • a principal object of the present invention is to provide a transport apparatus which can eliminate the above disadvantages of the conventional transport apparatus and which can load a block of a plurality of flat articles, aligned uprightly and juxtaposed laterally in a container, into a pipeline and unload the block from the pipeline, without causing the block to collapse.
  • a transport apparatus comprising a transport pipeline which is inclined upwards in a direction of transport at a loading station of the pipeline and stands uprightly to terminate in a downward opening at an unloading station, a push means provided at a rear end of the pipeline, the push means being movable in the longitudinal direction of the pipeline and having an air pipe, an annular resilient band provided near the downward opening, and an air supply means for projecting the resilient band toward the center of the downward opening.
  • the upwardly inclined pipeline prevents the flat articles from falling down in the forward direction and the push member abuts against the flat articles to prevent them from falling down in the backward direction, thereby preventing the block of the flat articles from collaspsing.
  • the object to be transported is not discharged from the pipeline unlimitedly but is temporarily held by the resilient band projecting toward the center of the downward opening and subsequently discharged, thereby preventing the block from collapsing upon unloading.
  • Another object of this invention is to provide a transport apparatus which can automatically achieve the temporary stopping of the object to be transported at the unloading station of the pipeline, without requiring a special manual operation by the operator.
  • a sensor for detecting dropping of the articles to be transported is provided above the resilient band and near the downward opening, and the sensor controls the air supply means.
  • the air supply means is so controlled as to feed air to the back of the resilient band and pressure of the thus fed air causes the resilient band to project toward the center of the downward opening.
  • the swollen surface of the resilient band captures and holds the descending article.
  • the controlling is effected by transferring a change-over valve.
  • FIG. 1 is a longitudinally sectioned front view showing a loading station of a transport apparatus according to this invention
  • FIG. 2 is a plan view of the FIG. 1 embodiment
  • FIG. 3 is a right side view showing a portion of the FIG. 1 embodiment.
  • FIG. 4 is a longitudinally sectioned front view showing an unloading station of the transport apparatus according to this invention.
  • FIGS. 1 to 3 there is illustrated a loading station of a transport apparatus utilizing pressurized air flow.
  • a transport pipeline 1 is inclined upwards in a direction of transport and has a rear end opening 18 contiguous to a loading opening 17 formed in its top surface near the rear end.
  • a suction head 2 is brought to the loading station 20 by a drive means such as a robot (not shown) disposed near the pipeline 1.
  • the suction head 2 has a length which is substantially equal to that of a block a of flat articles. Swingably mounted on longitudinally opposite end walls of the suction head 2 are holding arms 3 which are swung by a drive means (not shown) provided on the suction head 2 to open or close their tips.
  • the suction head 2 has a flat bottom surface formed with a plurality of suction holes (not shown) and a top surface connected with a suction pipe 4.
  • a cylinder 5 which is directed toward the rear end of the pipeline.
  • a piston rod 6 of the cylinder 5 is mounted, at its tip, with a push plate 8 which is inserted into the opening 18.
  • the push plate 8 is connected with an air pipe 7 which in turn is connected to a blower 10 installed on a frame 9.
  • FIG. 4 shows an unloading station 21.
  • the pipeline 1 stand substantially uprightly, terminating in a downward unloading opening 19.
  • a sensor 11 Near and above the unloading opening 19 is provided a sensor 11.
  • Disposed beneath the chamber 12 is a guide means 22 having a space surrounded by a plurality of guide bars 14.
  • the chamber 12 is connected to the blower 10 via a pipe 23 in which a change-over valve 15 and a check valve 16 intervene.
  • the holding arms 3 press and hold the opposite side ends of the block a and the suction head 2 evacuated through the suction pipe 4 adsorbs the block a, in order to bring the block a to a location as shown in FIG. 1, that is, to the loading station.
  • the holding by the holding arms and adsorption by the suction head 2 are deactivated to release the block a and thereafter, the suction head 2 is retracted from the opening 17.
  • the cylinder 5 is then operated to cause the push plate 8 to push the block a into the pipeline 1 and at the same time, pressurized air is supplied from the blower via the pipe 7 so as to move the block a through the pipeline 1.
  • the block a of the flat bodies will not collapse in the forward direction when the suction head 2 releases the block a at the loading station 20 as described above since the pipeline 1 is inclined upwards in the transport direction.
  • the block a will not also collapse in the backward direction since the push plate 8 abuts against the rear side of the block a.
  • the sensor 11 detects the passage of the block a to energize the change-over valve 15 which in turn permits the supply of the pressurized air to the resilient band 13. Consequently, the resilient band 13 projects or swells toward its center and a lower end portion of the descending block a is held by the swollen band surface to stop the block a.
  • the cylinder 5 is subsequently operated in the opposite direction to return the push plate 8 to the original position shown in FIG. 1.
  • a detection signal energizes the change-over valve 15 to transfer the same, for communicating the interior of the chamber 12 with atmosphere.
  • the band 13 recovers or retracts to allow the block a to drop into the guide means 22.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Branching, Merging, And Special Transfer Between Conveyors (AREA)
  • Specific Conveyance Elements (AREA)
US06/619,769 1983-06-22 1984-06-12 Transport apparatus for flat articles Expired - Fee Related US4578002A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP58-113176 1983-06-22
JP58113176A JPS606520A (ja) 1983-06-22 1983-06-22 容器及び蓋等の搬送装置

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US4578002A true US4578002A (en) 1986-03-25

Family

ID=14605475

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US06/619,769 Expired - Fee Related US4578002A (en) 1983-06-22 1984-06-12 Transport apparatus for flat articles

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US4578002A (enrdf_load_html_response)
JP (1) JPS606520A (enrdf_load_html_response)
DE (1) DE3423055A1 (enrdf_load_html_response)
FR (1) FR2549021B1 (enrdf_load_html_response)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2202200A (en) * 1987-02-27 1988-09-21 Molins Plc Article transport system

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1303604A (en) * 1919-05-13 Translating material
DE1104436B (de) * 1958-09-26 1961-04-06 Int Standard Electric Corp Rohrpostbuechsenbremse
US3099497A (en) * 1959-05-06 1963-07-30 Albert Air Conveyor Corp Pneumatic conveyor for pulverant materials
US4135684A (en) * 1977-08-17 1979-01-23 Walter Kidde & Company, Inc. Single tube pneumatic banking system
US4157796A (en) * 1977-03-07 1979-06-12 Warmann Bruno D Pneumatic tube conveyor dispatcher
US4178662A (en) * 1978-06-05 1979-12-18 U.S. Automation Company Spark plug conveyor and assembling means
US4325660A (en) * 1980-02-26 1982-04-20 C. K. Kelley And Sons, Inc. Single line pressure-pressure pneumatic tube system

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB881747A (en) * 1959-09-21 1961-11-08 Amf Sasib Pneumatic installation for conveying cigarette packets
FR1551153A (enrdf_load_html_response) * 1967-11-14 1968-12-27
FR2001782A1 (fr) * 1968-02-13 1969-10-03 Solvay Dispositif pour le transfert pneumatique de corps creux en matiere plastique
FR2123092B1 (enrdf_load_html_response) * 1970-12-14 1974-03-01 Saunier Duval
JPS4991090U (enrdf_load_html_response) * 1972-11-30 1974-08-07
JPS5114683A (ja) * 1974-07-26 1976-02-05 Hitachi Ltd Hansobutsuketorisochi

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1303604A (en) * 1919-05-13 Translating material
DE1104436B (de) * 1958-09-26 1961-04-06 Int Standard Electric Corp Rohrpostbuechsenbremse
US3099497A (en) * 1959-05-06 1963-07-30 Albert Air Conveyor Corp Pneumatic conveyor for pulverant materials
US4157796A (en) * 1977-03-07 1979-06-12 Warmann Bruno D Pneumatic tube conveyor dispatcher
US4135684A (en) * 1977-08-17 1979-01-23 Walter Kidde & Company, Inc. Single tube pneumatic banking system
US4178662A (en) * 1978-06-05 1979-12-18 U.S. Automation Company Spark plug conveyor and assembling means
US4325660A (en) * 1980-02-26 1982-04-20 C. K. Kelley And Sons, Inc. Single line pressure-pressure pneumatic tube system

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2202200A (en) * 1987-02-27 1988-09-21 Molins Plc Article transport system
US4915547A (en) * 1987-02-27 1990-04-10 Molins Plc Article transport system
GB2202200B (en) * 1987-02-27 1991-01-09 Molins Plc Article transport system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2549021A1 (fr) 1985-01-18
JPH0413258B2 (enrdf_load_html_response) 1992-03-09
JPS606520A (ja) 1985-01-14
FR2549021B1 (fr) 1987-04-30
DE3423055A1 (de) 1985-01-10

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AS Assignment

Owner name: SNOW BRAND MILK PRODUCTS CO., LTD. NO. 1-1, NAEBO-

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNORS:TANEDA, KOZO;CHIBA, MASAE;NAKA, JUNICHI;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:004272/0978

Effective date: 19840601

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Year of fee payment: 4

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Effective date: 19940330

STCH Information on status: patent discontinuation

Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362